Understanding Violent Crime* How widespread is violence? * Why do people engage in various forms of violence? * What can be done to reduce the level of violence? Understanding Violent Crime provides a concise yet thorough and extensive account of the main explanations of violent behaviour. It draws upon sociological and psychological perspectives on violence as part of a coherent approach to the study of a phenomenon that raises wide public concern. There is also a focus on the ways in which violence is considered by the criminal justice system. Definitions of the main violent offences, including violent sexual offences, are discussed and some indication of the levels of sentencing in particular cases is provided. The final chapter then considers ways in which offenders are able to confront their violent behaviour within the criminal justice system. Frequent references to the definitions and treatment of violence in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA give the book a distinctive comparative perspective. The result is a wide-ranging and essential undergraduate text and a key reference for researchers in the field. |
Contents
Definitions of violence 335 | 3 |
The extent of violence | 13 |
Biological influences mental disorder drugs and alcohol | 31 |
Copyright | |
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abuse activities aggression alcohol American amount anger Appeal approach areas argued assault association attack become behaviour boys caused cent Chapter child claimed committed common concern consideration considered convicted countries Court criminal defendant definition delinquent developed discussed disorder domestic drugs early effect England evidence example explanations factors feelings female findings further gang given harm Home important imprisonment incidents increase individuals interest involved justice learning less male masculinity means mental months occur offenders Office parents particular period person physical police practice prison problems programmes punishment question rape rates reasons recent recorded referred relationship reported response result sentence serious sexual significant similar situation social society statistics suggested surveys theory types usually victims violence violent crime violent offenders women writers